Draperstown ‘The Shambles’ Livestock Market Advertising

12 Nov

Market Overview

This is the lower part of what is referred to as The Shambles in Draperstown.

Shambles is a term often used for open air slaughterhouses and meat markets. This is often part of a town where butchers were would kill and dress animals for consumption. The Shambles yard here has been used for mostly cattle sales in this part of Draperstown and belonged to the Skinners Company of London. In direct competition at the crossroads, the Drapers Company ran a Shambles located at the Diamond and Fair Hill to rival the markets held on Skinners lands. The Shambles yard is connected to the main street via the bull ring and entrance through Regans yard onto the main street.

It was an often familiar sight to see come Friday, from the days of Laughlin McNamee with the roads and paths bedecked with carts, tractors, trailers and cars all carrying both man and beast to market. In recent years the market has been run by O’Neill & McBride Cattle auctioneers and the fine tradition continues the here at the Shambles.